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WE’LL destroy you. We’ll rain fire and fury on you. We will talk to you. We look forward to talking to you. We have forced you to talk to us. Let the opponents go on with their hundred emotional somersaults. The important thing is to remain sensible, preferably with a smile, while doing your own pirouette, if for no other reason than to keep the rival guessing.

That’s what Kim Jong-un just did with Donald Trump. The North Korean leader Trump reviled as a nuclear-trigger happy buffoon is being lauded as a potential harbinger of peace in a fraught region of the world. Trump who believes he can discipline anyone with his forbidding military arsenal looks set to lose the mid-term polls for his party.

Both sides of the Korean Peninsula have heaved a big sigh of relief as has the neighbourhood and beyond. All it took was for the young North Korean leader to cross the demarcation line with a knowing smile. The line he crossed is a Cold War relic that has lingered on like the grin of the Cheshire cat, which was the last to vanish.

The most photographed embrace between the estranged Korean leaders, their globally watched stroll, the watering of a shared tree of blessing and the spontaneous banter, the promise to end nuclear brinkmanship, the resolve to go to the Olympics as a joint team are all stories that have been dreamt and even pondered in South Asia by people in India and Pakistan, together and separately.

There are some obvious similarities and there are very crucial differences between the Korean Peninsula and South Asia. One was divided by the Cold War, the other created by colonialism. A cursory glance at the map would reveal a curious feature. Most countries divided by the Cold War have been reunited. Germany, Vietnam, Yemen come to mind. The Koreas look primed as the next. The fact remains that those divided by colonialism remain estranged, in Africa most notably. Palestine and Ireland are prime examples.

There are some obvious similarities and some very crucial differences between the Korean Peninsula and South Asia.

One doesn’t have to look too hard to see the obvious similarities and how the Korean situation replicates itself in broad contours in South Asia. For that we need to ignore the historical detail.

Consider the main similarities that really matter today. Pakistan’s worldview is aligned with China as is North Korea’s, while India looks betrothed to the US-led West not unlike South Korea. The Cold War equation was drastically different in South Asia, when the proverbial boot was on the other foot, when the American and British embassies in Delhi lionised Kashmiri resistance. Today, the main global anchors in South Asia and the Korean Peninsula are almost identical.

We don’t know the essential details of the meeting that took place last week between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The public face offered a reminder of the 1993 event in Beijing when Narasimha Rao and Li Peng signed the landmark agreement on peace and tranquillity on their borders. Reference to that agreement, handiwork of a typically Chinese draftsmanship, was heard again at the Xi-Modi summit. There was also mention of some kind of cooperation in Afghanistan.

There is an important event ahead when the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meets in China in June. Indian and Pakistani leaders would be there. But already a far-reaching agreement seems to be in place whereby Indian and Pakistani troops would be for the first time involved in a joint multinational military exercise in Russia to combat terrorism.

The agreement announced by the Indian defence minister masks a philosophy deeper than the fact of sending their troops to a multinational exercise under the aegis of SCO. It is an inescapable fact that both sides would be participating together in an anti-terrorist drill. In other words, they have to first accept that they have a common target, a shared understanding of the foe. That is a formula that seems to go back to the Manmohan Singh and Pervez Musharraf agreement when they decided that their talks would not be derailed by acts of terrorism. Ironies!

On a larger canvas, the ascendant rulers in Pakistan and India are precisely those that did not want a partition in the first place. But they were vehemently opposed to it not because they believed in inclusive secularism or democracy but because they wanted the entire landmass of India to themselves, one eyeing it as a Muslim empire the other drooling at the prospects of a Hindu hegemony. The RSS and the Jamaat were both opposed to a divided Indian subcontinent and they are both controlling if not directly wielding power in their respective domains today. This is different from the Koreas where both sides that met for a handshake and a landmark photo-op represent the ideas that divided them. To work around those differences is civilised. That is what democracies were meant to do.

Where there is hope from the Korean Peninsula, there’s not much positive energy trickling through for a South Asian encore. That, however, doesn’t mean there is no need to work for a rapprochement nor that it isn’t doable. Today, Jinnah would be scratching his head with disbelief at the narrow ideas they have imposed on his country to stifle women and random communities.

Nehru and Gandhi are openly accused of betrayal. It would be news if they weren’t. A few months before his death in 1964, Nehru had said that India wanted a confederation with Pakistan. “But every time we mention it, they get frightened.”

Consider this: what was so frightening about crossing a demarcation line that nobody on the peninsula saw as terribly helpful? Jinnah saw the need for Pakistan as a last resort. Gandhi accepted it grudgingly. And their admirers don’t see the point even when their dreams are exploding.

On DawnNews

Comments (131) Closed

Lord Ickenham

May 01, 2018 08:02am

Thanks but no thanks. We are happy to see Pakistan as a separate country.

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Sm

May 01, 2018 08:28am

India and Pakistan were created out of religion, nothing else. Jinnah was right. The two religions cannot co-exist. Partition though painful was necessary, if not in 1947 then later ( the blood bath would have been even more severe). Lets stay separate, educate and develop our own countries the way our respective populace see fit. Time may heal but will definitely tell whether partition was right or wrong.

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KenSAM59

May 01, 2018 09:08am

Imagine the economic might of the old Raj if the money and lives spent fighting each other had been used to develop the economy. China well might be number two in Asia.

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karr

May 01, 2018 10:10am

You forgot a key difference - Religion - The opium of the masses and the greatest divisor of people. I dont have any hope that things will improve.

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Ahmed

May 01, 2018 11:09am

With Modi and BJP, anti Pakistan agenda will never ceases in India. After all Modi politics are based on anti Pakistan agenda.

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Himmat

May 01, 2018 11:15am

As hatred exists in both nations, based on religion and history, it is best they stay separate and that is more safe for general citizens.

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BhaRAT

May 01, 2018 11:19am

Peace between the two countries is not possible due to huge ego of Indian leadership as If they’re superpower

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BhaRAT

May 01, 2018 11:20am

Please no we are happy that we got separated from India

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Socrates

May 01, 2018 11:21am

This is a valid question but the answer is a big 'No'.

Becoming one is a far cry, the two countries cannot even have good relations.

The reason: There are vested interests who would like the status quo because they benefit out of such a situation. The survival of such elements is on a state of constant conflict.

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MANI KANT

May 01, 2018 11:22am

Hate is not the answer of hate. Love is the answer of hate. Else hate will continue for ever. We have to put an end to this hate and deliberately bring love to bring happiness to 1.5 Billion souls living in these artificially divided country. Since time immomarial, we have lived together.

My dear Pakistani friends, your Govt, media might be vomiting venom against India before you but where India is concerned, situation is different. We look upon you as our estranged brother and we want peace in your life. Why cannt we bring a change and start discussions of unification of India and Pakistan which the Britishers did so that we donot become strong and challenge them? If India can become the 6th Largest economy of the world in 70 years, think when India and Pakistan merge. We will become 3rd or 4th largest economy in next 10 years. Next wars are not going to be fought by weapons but by economy. Economic development not guns bring happiness. We were one. Lets become one once again.

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k p rao

May 01, 2018 11:23am

No way. Let you be you and we be we.

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Peter

May 01, 2018 11:24am

Yes Modi and NS did exactly that sir !

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BAKHTIAR UDDIN

May 01, 2018 11:25am

There is just no comparison between Korean Peninsula and Subcontinent. Koreans had political spheres while Subcontinent had ideological differences.
RSS & JI were interested in the share of their pie. The condition of Muslims in India is in front of us. What else proof is required?
To me this article is fifth generation war and must not be encouraged.

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Gaurav , chemical engineer

May 01, 2018 11:30am

Point is what will india gain by coming together when it's already better in all sectors like health education infrastructure trade and technology ?

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Mustafa Ali Shah

May 01, 2018 11:33am

If religion alone was the reason for separation then how come Muslims and Hindus lived there for centuries before 1947? There are currently more Muslims in India than in Pakistan and they are living equally fine, if not better, than people in Pakistan. Its time to move on, we need each other for mutual progress, Pakistan more so than India. We need to clear our minds of unnecessary hatred for each other. We are the sons of same soil, need to learn to live like brothers and shut all those ignorant bigots in our society. War between our countries will not only be devastating to us but to the whole world.

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Surya Kant

May 01, 2018 11:34am

There are no serious issues between two nations. Hostilities between them is part of existential strategies.

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Saif Zulfiqar

May 01, 2018 11:35am

Who needs India as a friend? Not me.

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Dilip Thorat

May 01, 2018 11:42am

Countries of Korea's and Germanies were tied with one local religion. There own religion.

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Abdulla Hussain

May 01, 2018 11:44am

If the two Koreas can step towards reconciliation, why can't Pakistan and India?
This is a good question that should be directed towards India first. Pakistan is on record having invited India several times to talks. It is India's arrogance that peace talks is not being held. India is even reluctant to advancing sports programs with Pakistan. India has to come out of the ego of being big and better.

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Pankaj Srivastava

May 01, 2018 11:44am

The two korean countries had nothing to do with religion in their formation as oppose to we all know what happened here..

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Surya Kant

May 01, 2018 11:58am

We on this side, you on that side, stay happy and blessed.

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sekhar Bhatta

May 01, 2018 11:58am

How about a referendum including Bangladesh for unification.
Whether such ideas tantamount to something profane,only
future can tell.

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Naveed

May 01, 2018 12:14pm

Because we are two completely different nations. We are better stay different nations, as calling India & Pakistan is one nation be a white lie. Now living with each other peacefully. Yes, we must adopt ways and India should come to terms with Pakistan and set the Kashmir free.

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Dost

May 01, 2018 12:34pm

Still it's near to impossible to undo partition but since many things are common among both nations if better sense prevail can live with love and grow together helping each other. A huge fund is being wasted in ego of failing each other.

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ma dhavan

May 01, 2018 12:45pm

Because Kim decides what happens in North Korea. Who decides affairs in Pak?

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Razi

May 01, 2018 12:57pm

Mr Author: 2-Nation Theory is above all.

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nationalist

May 01, 2018 01:07pm

I think Indian dissent for being ruled, literally by just about everyone in this region is not misplaced. It will take some time for them over come this hatred for Pakistan. Secondly they have bigger problems at home to worry about, another of decade of this fascist government in India will create more pakistans, kahsmirs and khalistans rather than mending ties with existing ones.

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Zak

May 01, 2018 01:12pm

‘The RSS and the Jamaat were both opposed to a divided Indian subcontinent and they are both controlling if not directly wielding power in their respective domains today’

Difference In India the extremists are in power and constantly war mongering but in Pakistan they are out of govt and irrelevant.

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Guy from Delhi

May 01, 2018 01:16pm

A follow up question.. Why can't both India and Pakistan co-exist happily like hundreds of other countries?

If u can't love each other just ignore each other.. Y the hatred.. Just resolve the issues in a mature fashion n then say " we will see u, when we will see u" period

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Suresh

May 01, 2018 01:16pm

True. There should be unification of India & Pakistan.

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Zak

May 01, 2018 01:20pm

Nearly 70 years on there are umpteen independence movements in India, most notable being the Kashmiris in IOK and Nagas of Nagaland in ION. Besides what is so similar about a Sikh and Tamil, let alone a Pathan or Baluch. Infact existing India should have been 12 different independent countries. Let India take the first step and agree to discuss implementation of UN Kashmir plebiscite than let’s sign peace deals.

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Mike

May 01, 2018 01:20pm

Religion and at most the fanatics peoples on both sides the borders are, spreading hate..we are human first and after that all other things comes but the religion overwhelmed us and so there is poverty illiteracy and all..look at China the country without religion developed so much need to be learn for better future,..Thank you

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BRIJ

May 01, 2018 01:21pm

Let us remain separate but be friendly.

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Asad

May 01, 2018 01:26pm

But Sir, there was also Bosnia, Montenegro, East Taimur, South Sudan, and referendums in Quebec and Scotland and of course the Soviet Union, where nations that wanted natural separation got independence. Indian union falls within this category.

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Shubham

May 01, 2018 01:29pm

Both are divided on the basis of Religious Hegemony , but the same is not between Koreans.

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anonymous

May 01, 2018 01:53pm

Forgot about being united, lets first at least start living in peace and harmony with each other, once that is achieved let the future generations decide how they want to live. The irony is, the people who got partitioned hardly had any say in the decision, so in future let the people decide rather than the leaders.

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Shah

May 01, 2018 01:53pm

The Korea’s have the same language they same religion and culture, here we have deep rooted diversification’s but yet we can have a Asian Union and be an economic force to be reckoned with. With the talent and hard working man power available to us we can dominate the world only if we can overcome the mistrust and stop trying to destabilize each other.But a unified Subcontinent No Thanks.

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Harbinger

May 01, 2018 01:54pm

I have always been advocating such a policy but its nothing but a hope which will never come true in this part of the world.
I lived with some Indians the UK and spent some unforgettable moments of my life with them, honestly, they are just like us and there is no difference between us. the lessons which we have been taught in Punjab Text Book Board books is nothing but a lie which is totally baseless and without a tint of reality in it.
love humanity and keep your religion to just yourself.
Improve relations with India, enhance people to people contacts and spend on the poor peoples of India/Pakistan instead of buying arms/weapons from the US.

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Reader

May 01, 2018 01:59pm

A subject that many in South Asia would have there own views. The fact is both India and Pakistan have to come closer to each other, this is not a choice for Pakistan or India it is a simple necessity, like medicine to stay alive, or suffer a painful future. Yes there are many who would indeed prefer a painful future, than friendship, this is the real pain, it is about the mindset, it is not about religion, as some who have commented. Millions of Muslims and Hindu's live in peace in many places of the world like the U.K. they can do the same here in the Sub-Continent. There is so much to gain, that it is nearly impossible even to imagine, every moment that passes by is a lost moment. If we want to have friendship we can have it, if we do not want friendship, then just say it, do not make excuses, it as simple as that.

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Sat

May 01, 2018 02:12pm

Many in India do not wish to join Pakistan in any manner. Let them be happy in Pakistan and let us be happy with our India.

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AR

May 01, 2018 02:16pm

Because of the matter of religion.

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Mansoor

May 01, 2018 02:18pm

Treachery at its best in British: Ireland- Northern Ireland, India-Pakistan-Kashmir, Israel-Palestine, Syria-Iraq, Their division of nations is so craftily created that rather than time healing the wounds, the divisions are deepening.

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Hamid shafiq

May 01, 2018 02:40pm

@MANI KANT it’s better you should give recommendations and suggestions which you mention in comment to Modi, Bajrang Dal, Rashtria Sewak Sung.

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Shahryar Shirazi

May 01, 2018 02:40pm

"The RSS and the Jamaat were both opposed to a divided Indian subcontinent and they are both controlling if not directly wielding power in their respective domains today "

I disagree. While RSS is in power and the Indian democracy has elected a radical government to power, we, in Pakistan, have never elected a radical government in the last 70 years. Jamaat stands zero chance to win the election in our country. That was the case in the past, and will be the trend in the future.

I do agree with the message that peace must prevail in the sub continent.

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Salahuddin

May 01, 2018 02:45pm

The prerequisite is sincerity towards peaceful co existence. Which unfortunately, India is not

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Zen

May 01, 2018 02:48pm

Koreans on both side of border are same people, ethnicity based.The same can't be said about Indians and Pakistanis. Relegion is just one of these differentiating factor.Political factions on both side used this narrative of oneness for their selfish benefits. It's time for masses to be realistic and accept the facts.

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Reader

May 01, 2018 02:55pm

@Mustafa Ali Shah. Well said, I agree with you 100 percent. We may not become one nation again, but we can promote friendship, trade, travel, tourism, sport, business, education, sharing of knowledge and many many other things, this is where the future is and all it takes is take is a step forward like the leaders of North and South Korea just did.

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rajkumar

May 01, 2018 02:57pm

@BhaRAT so are we.

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Haris Maqsood

May 01, 2018 02:58pm

Pakistan was created as a separate homeland for the Muslims of the Indian Sub Continent. Islam and Hinduism are two different religions with differing values, beliefs, norms, customs and practices. A very basic example to put forward is that we Muslims eat beef, in fact not just Muslims but Christians, Jews and people of other faiths as well, but since Muslims in India are in minority, therefore they are lynched by Hindu extremists for eating it.
Here in Pakistan, the Hindu minority lives in peace with Muslims unlike in India where the minority Muslims are subject to harassment by the Hindu extremists. We are two different nations.
As far as the North and South Korea are concerned, I do not not know what their difference were but the main thing is that they speak the same language and follow the same religion (whatever that may be).

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Reader

May 01, 2018 02:58pm

@Saif Zulfiqar But I do. !!!

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Lost name

May 01, 2018 03:06pm

The two Korea's don't have Kashmir in-between

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Haris Maqsood

May 01, 2018 03:07pm

@Mustafa Ali Shah How can you say that they are living equally fine and in fact better than in Pakistan?
My friend, Muslims in India are living as a second class citizen and are subject to harassment on regular basis by the Hindu extremists. Muslims having know to possess beef are lynched by them. If you are so admired by India then please leave Pakistan and go live there.

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K Ganesan

May 01, 2018 03:09pm

In fact British doesn't want India to prosper.That is why they divided the country into two parts.There by Western Arm Sale market flourishes.For no purpose both the sides are loosing blood & wasting money on defence procurement.

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Nomansland

May 01, 2018 03:34pm

@Saif Zulfiqar Nobody asked you to !!

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Ajay Patil

May 01, 2018 03:35pm

Its better to live separate.

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Love Your Country

May 01, 2018 03:37pm

@Lord Ickenham - agreed, but we need to build it stronger in economic terms to stay independent.

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Haris

May 01, 2018 03:42pm

What do you mean? If joining then no Pakistan is and will always be a country

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wise2win

May 01, 2018 03:45pm

Pakistani population have moved way past the point of return to the right. The only feasible solution is to have good working relationship to enable trade and cultural exchanges and hope for the best. Reducing hatred and animosity should be the immediate objective.

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Madhav Das

May 01, 2018 03:54pm

I think it would be better to stay separate nations. We do not see eye to eye on most matters due to our Hindu and Muslim history however that does not mean we should remain enemies forever. Our differences can be reduced and our hostilities mellowed but our cultural differences are too wide to bridge.
Staying as different nations we will progress at a faster rate because we are competitive people and that will work to lift our people out of poverty faster.

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Kumar

May 01, 2018 05:41pm

@KenSAM59 Agree 100%

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Arij Khan

May 01, 2018 06:05pm

What would happen to the security establishment’s budget?
No credit for guessing which of the two adversaries will go bankrupt first!
We have not learnt any lesson from the collapse of the Soviet Union.
We learn from History, that we do not learn from History!
Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it.

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NP

May 01, 2018 06:48pm

Thank you very much for sensible and forward looking article. Yes if we, both Indians and Pakistanis have the will, there would be a way forward and may be a bright future for whole subkontinentnot far away.

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Leo

May 01, 2018 06:54pm

Thanks but No thanks! We are happy in India .

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P. Khan

May 01, 2018 07:34pm

Intelligent analysis!

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auginpk

May 01, 2018 08:23pm

We are happy with present separation.

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karur

May 01, 2018 08:47pm

This is very timely. What is required is not a reunification but a peace treaty between India and pakistan. The world has changed and the unthinkable has happened between the two Koreas. Same must happen with India and pakistan

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Manish

May 01, 2018 09:12pm

@Sm I agree with you 100%, but partition should have been completed not the way it has been .

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Truth

May 01, 2018 09:40pm

Want to visit Sandholi haryana near paeowa, the village of my father. Want to contact descendents of tokha jaat there.

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Singh.ra

May 01, 2018 10:14pm

To reunite is in favor of all.

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Sutch

May 01, 2018 10:28pm

@BhaRAT Feeling is mutual.

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C T Rao

May 01, 2018 10:55pm

@Saif Zulfiqar it will be economic disaster for India if the two have to come together

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Aleem

May 01, 2018 11:13pm

@MANI KANT Thanks but no thanks. We Pakistanis feel that Pakistan is the best thing that happened to Muslims of India. We do not want to merge or live with Indians (no disrespect to my Indian friends). We are happy in our beloved land and wish you the same on your side. Just leave us alone and stop this hatred. And by the way the hatred and venom that is seen on Indian media is unmatched and I see no such thing in Pakistan and Dawn is one example. Good luck

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The Real Haroon

May 01, 2018 11:18pm

Religion is too important for some, that’s why!

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Aslam

May 01, 2018 11:43pm

Because India is not interested in talking to Pakistan or peace. It is only interested in spreading chaos and bullying its neighbors.

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nks

May 02, 2018 12:03am

For once I agree with Jawed Naqvi's thoughts on Pak-India reconciliation!
just reconciliation please.
Increased bi-lateral trade between the two countries will be good--esp. for Pakistan
Think!

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nks

May 02, 2018 12:16am

@Saif Zulfiqar :Great for you!

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HnR

May 02, 2018 12:26am

The question is correct .Koreas do not have a Kashmir ot fight over to waste their time and resources, That is why S.Korea is way ahead of our countries. Ignore Kashmir and see the change for both nations.

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Shah

May 02, 2018 12:55am

Peace is very possible. Hindus have to leave Kashmiri Muslims alone. Thats it.

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VJ Shah

May 02, 2018 01:08am

@Mustafa Ali Shah
Very well written ! Hats off to you !!

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Bogus

May 02, 2018 01:47am

It took USA threat to attack N Korea to get China/N Korea attention.

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S.K. Sharma

May 02, 2018 01:47am

@Harbinger Just like you I have fond memories of wonderful time spent with Pakistani friends during my long stay in Saudi Arabia. Hope the relations between the two countries improve enough to enable us to visit each other

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Nachiketa

May 02, 2018 01:48am

@Saif Zulfiqar me too neve ever friendship with Pakistanis.

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Arshad patel

May 02, 2018 02:27am

We won't see til WORLD exists

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Tanvir

May 02, 2018 03:04am

There is a Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan. The Korea issue can't be compared to an Akhand Bharat dream

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Tanvir

May 02, 2018 03:05am

@KenSAM59 - No way. the quality of the people of two nations are very different and diverse.

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Mirza

May 02, 2018 03:24am

That’s a simple one, north or south they are Koreans snd in case of India or Pakistan they are totally different people with unique mindset.

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tarique

May 02, 2018 03:38am

Pakistan should be a separate country. It performed much better than India from 1947-1991 in all economic parameters. The economy will rebound soon. India is on the verge of another partition in coming decades. There's no reason for unification. Muslims are safer in Pakistan. No one is getting lynched for eating beef.

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Ahobala Sadashiva

May 02, 2018 04:21am

This is what the comment I have made in The Hindu newspaper published. All the so-called differences between warring factions in the world are just notional, stemming out of the false sense of pride, insecurity, egoistic & just imaginary in character. As you have said, if two Koreas can do it, why not India & Pakistan, Israel & Iran & the Arab world. The best of Non-dual Vedanta & Sufism can bring the two great religions closer, of course sans radicalism in both.Alleviation of poverty & all kinds of insecurity, better education, health-care free housing for all, cultural exchange between th two countries would make the sub-continent a better place to live for the younger generation.The humongous amounts spent on defense & space exploration could be diverted for providing all these welfare measures. It only needs rethinking of money for change of hearts.

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Alba

May 02, 2018 04:21am

I have friends and relatives who fought on both sides in the Korean War. The Korean War was a war between China, North Korea (controlled by Russia who has Russian troops in the Korean Peninsula) against the United States and NATO. The Russians supplied the Chinese and North Korean army with Russian T-32 tanks, MIG-15 fighter jets and AK-47s. The US military was fighting a North Korean- Russian-China combination. The Russians had equipped the North Korea army prior to the war to conquer all of Korea in the name of International Communism. Mao Ze-dong himself said after the war that Joseph Stalin had talked him into it, and that considering how many Chinese peasants were killed in the war it was a bad idea to intervene. That the Russians should have fount the war themselves.

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Nayani

May 02, 2018 04:26am

Very good dream.

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Political connoisseur

May 02, 2018 04:42am

Two sovereign states but with excellent relations. Like USA & Canads.

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Shafiullah shirazi

May 02, 2018 05:35am

Mixing peace and Modi is like mixing oil and pure water.

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Mohini Kutir

May 02, 2018 05:40am

So be it - sooner the better

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Zafar Iqbal

May 02, 2018 05:55am

Who is suggesting for the merger, I thought the writer is suggesting to lower the level of enmity and have peaceful relations. Thats how Europe progressed by leaving all the enmity behind and have peace.

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Ragu

May 02, 2018 06:33am

One does not need to be a large nation to be prosperous and strong; England was a small Island that ruled the whole world for many centuries. It is better for Pakistan and India to stay independent and leave each other alone.

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Kumar

May 02, 2018 06:34am

No need. MODI JI please concentrate on India's growth further rather than friendship with Pakistan. Anyway friendship is still there people to people.
better relationship with China would be better option. All sanctions made N Korea to negotiate or they would have died.

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salim langra

May 02, 2018 07:21am

Lets just be good neighbours first. Talks of anything else can come later.

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Poorsole

May 02, 2018 07:24am

@Zak : read the un version of UN resolution

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Niranjan

May 02, 2018 07:27am

North Korea had shown hatred towards USA only, not towards South Korea. Unfortunately, in both our countries, there is a section of people who promote hatred towards the other side and win votes. Also, the religion is the biggest negative in our relationship. The outlook for future is not very bright!

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PKS

May 02, 2018 08:02am

Two Koreas share same language and religion. India, Pakistan and Bangladesh got created due to the differences in these two factors.

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Ashraf Siddiqui

May 02, 2018 08:13am

Whats d comparison between Koreans Status and India-Pakistan.

Pakistan was achieved as a sovereign country and after a struggle. India-Pakistan have dispute on territory of Kashmir, whereas, Koreans have NO such conflict. There are NO UN Security Council resolutions pending between Korean peninsula whereas, whole world and then Indian leadership accepted UN resolutions and are awaited to implement.

Such comparisons can only support Indian point of view but not of Pakistans

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Robert

May 02, 2018 08:24am

@KenSAM59 How true.

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mkb

May 02, 2018 09:24am

Two Korea and India Pakistan is not alike,
There is big difference.
Hindu and Muslim. South pole and North Pole.

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LS

May 02, 2018 09:25am

Thanks but No Thanks... It would be like drinking a poison.

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Human first

May 02, 2018 09:50am

formation of something as similar as EU is more feasible..

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bulesha

May 02, 2018 10:06am

@Haris Maqsood "North and South Korea are concerned, I do not not know what their difference" you don''t know any thing. Your knowledge of India is based on talk show or politician talk.

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Capricorn

May 02, 2018 12:08pm

This constant refrain about Muslims lynched for eating beef....there were Very few isolated incidents in very rural and backward parts of the country...not more than 3 or 4 and all hugely publicised by media so made to look like a hugely horrific incident. In a country of a diverse one billion population this is nothing. Mountain out of a molehill. Come and see for yourself how eating beef quite openly among on Hindus is quitenor al in al, big Indian cities. Please don’t go on and on about this...look at the big picture.

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venkat

May 02, 2018 03:00pm

@Sm
Sir or Madam
I really do not know the ground realities of co existence of religions in Pakistan.
But to an extent I am aware of that in India. If anybody claims that they know everything they are fooling.
There are many religions,castes,languages are co existing in India.
I agree that they are not fully in harmony.
But if you take many countries there is no harmony as well.
I am not apologetic.

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Navin

May 02, 2018 03:06pm

Its just been 60 odd years.

Divide and Rule - The play is nothing new, if US is the one who does it today, UK was then. When they kept saying publicly that they want peace, they really dont want it.

Its not going to be too long before we realize we had been played well. Sure that this division is not going to last long. Were together will be together.

Hope that it happens in my lifetime.

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Khan Pakistani

May 02, 2018 03:21pm

Two Koreans are same people but we are not . We dress differently, we eat differently, we worship differently, our heroes and villains are different and follow different code of life .

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FAIRTALK

May 02, 2018 04:24pm

@Gaurav , chemical engineer I fully agree with you, India has made tremendous progress in the field of science and technolog but it is a fact even after 70 years it has failed to provide the basic needs like
Health, Education, and Justice to majority of the
people. It's hard to say how many people are living
below the poverty level.

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SHAHID SATTAR

May 02, 2018 04:32pm

The partition of the Indian sub-continent took place with the consent of the major stakeholders including the British government and the Hindus and Muslims who wanted to divide the then India into two dominions for both separately. Nowhere in the world has anything like this occurred previously. The present Korean drama or any other scenario is not comparable to the Indo-Pak division and any dreams of its undoing must be postponed forever by their dreamers.

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Haris Maqsood

May 02, 2018 05:21pm

@bulesha Then enlighten me O knowledgeable one!

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Singh.ra

May 02, 2018 06:01pm

If India and Pakistan reunite, The Kashmir issue will be resolved automatically. I will travel only India and would fee traveled entire world.

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Isra

May 02, 2018 06:31pm

Keep it simple. Just look at the Europian Union model. Can the two countries have somting like that or may be improved version ?

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dynamite-

May 02, 2018 07:34pm

@Ashraf Siddiqui
-UN Security Council resolutions pending : This is NOT pending any more...anyways it was never binding else we would have been sanctioned
- please read the UN Security Council resolution on Kashmir and you will realise who is stopping it from getting implemented.

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dynamite-

May 02, 2018 07:35pm

@Human first - EU like ...
India has already given MFN status to Pakistan...Pakistan backed out after agreeing. so forget about EU like alignment

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dynamite-

May 02, 2018 07:43pm

Kim was called in to China to be given the message to fall in line....Trump told Xi to get Kim fixed or face devastation.

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Zak

May 02, 2018 08:32pm

@Poorsole You read the UN version don’t read the Indian version of the UN version. Get it.

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Zak

May 02, 2018 08:34pm

@Khan Pakistani Extremely well put. One is same if the mind and outlook is the same, not otherwise.

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Zak

May 02, 2018 10:10pm

@anonymous All the parts that make up Pakistan , the people actually voted for Independent Pakistan from the British empire. In Kashmir, one person , the Raja, decided for 22 million citizens, without a vote. But they are waiting for UN plebiscite to excercise their right.

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Tamil

May 02, 2018 10:28pm

Just barely keeping the existing states togather, just leave it at that.

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Raghu D

May 02, 2018 10:31pm

Pakistan is an Islamic Country and India is a Secular country (atleast in the books). So, how can these two be united?

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Max

May 03, 2018 04:04am

One word: Relegion.

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Akil Akhtar

May 03, 2018 04:40am

Because india has never accepted Pakistan and from the beginning the hoped for its demise...when it did not happen they started working towards it. Now they feel they are close to achieving their goal they will never accept any form of peace.

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Sara

May 03, 2018 09:27am

Both these countries are too busy. Stabbing at each other. Pakistan has not improved an inch after separation and India has major issues of its own the caste system that is still being followed. Both these countries are obsessed with white color. I don't see any hope for these two countries.

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Mahesh K

May 03, 2018 01:17pm

@BAKHTIAR UDDIN Indeed the condtion is in front of everybody- all movie Superstars (Srk, Amir, Salman, irfan, nawaz) are muslim, AR rehman is muslim, 5 presidents have been muslim, longest serving Indian cricket Team captain (Md. Azharuddin) is muslim, so many state Ministers are muslims, my math teacher in School was muslim. Muslim in india are better of than in Pakistan. India gives them better possibilities to achieve a good life.

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Pabitra

May 03, 2018 02:39pm

Both the country should live like brothers in one home. They should be the best friends in the world. Unite they prosper & divide they will fall. This is the bitter truth.

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Bhavani Shankar Pani

May 03, 2018 06:27pm

@Sm If religion be the dividing line why is it not uniting the warring communities and countries all over the middle east and north Africa and Ireland? It is all game of power to rule where winner takes all at the cost of the people not in power- both rich and poor.